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Hun Chan Nang of CCK talking with members of the rice bank committee in Tonlab village: Prak Roun, the finance officer, and Mrs Seang
Yon, the head of the committee. (Jim Holmes/Oxfam)
www.oxfam.org.uk
INTRODUCTION
Takeo is a province of Cambodia located along the southern Cambodia-
Vietnam border and is affected by flooding every year. From September
through to at least December, peoples movements, agricultural work and
productivity are restricted until the water recedes. Those living in flood
prone areas experience significant difficulties in protecting their
livelihoods. This has resulted in out-migration as families and individuals
seek more secure livelihoods in other districts or provinces of the
country.
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The major activities undertaken by OGB and CCK included:
Capacity building for Village Committees for Disaster Management
(VCDMs) and local authorities on humanitarian response and DRR
related concepts.
Building up womens leadership within the process of establishing
VCDMs.
Implementing cash for work schemes.
Promoting house repair by contributing construction materials.
Distribution of boats, fishing nets and water filters.
Making and distribution of cement water jars/containers.
Growing vegetables.
Tree and bamboo planting in the village as protection from strong
winds and storms.
Safe area and school construction.
The project gave our villagers knowledge and livelihoods assistance such
as wooden boats, cash for work to elevate our homes, giant water jars,
emergency kits, fishing nets and houses for the most vulnerable families.
The aid from the programme improved our day-to-day living conditions.
Compared to five years ago, the communitys life is very different. Every
family has enough food to eat, increased income and reduced debt.
Increasingly people are able to send their children to school and our health
is improving. The majority of households have been able to upgrade to new
engine boats from the wooden boats that were distributed by the
programme. The new boats support people to earn more income through
increasing the volume of aquatic products taken to market and decreasing
time spent as well. A number of trees were planted and have grown high to
protect houses against strong winds during flood time, and the house
structures are now stronger. These changes show that community
members understand how and take action to manage living with floods.
VCDM chairwomen in Banteay Sloek village
The project also worked with men, to build their awareness of gender
equality and gain their support for womens participation. By making the
whole community acknowledge womens role in DRR and preparedness
programmes and by actively involving them in VCDMs, womens need
and interests were effectively addressed. This means the right of women
to participate in decisions that affect their lives has been enhanced.
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More women are participating in key aspects of the programme and its
implementation. There are real opportunities to learn village institutional
leadership and management skills. This is a contribution to womens
strategic needs. Some women in two of the target villages stated firmly that
they want to be leaders.
Team leader of the project evaluation
Female VCDM leaders are visible in the eye of community and are able to
make decision equally within the family. Whether about small or big things,
the women and their husbands always makes decisions together. Those
women leaders of VCDMs feel that they have more value within their family
and community. Community members, especially women, feel comfortable
seeking assistance from them when they face a problem.
CCK director
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Even though Oxfam and CCK phased out in late 2007, the VCDM still
functions. VCDM members continue the work, including meetings and
plans to support community people. I am very proud to be a woman leader
of the VCDM. It helps me as an illiterate woman to get involved in
development and gives me a chance to serve my community.
VCDM chairwomen in Banteay Sloek village
For further information on the issues raised in this paper please e-mail
policyandpractice@oxfam.org.uk.
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adaptation, permission must be secured and a fee may be charged. E-mail
policyandpractice@oxfam.org.uk.
OXFAM
Oxfam is a registered charity in England and Wales (no 202918) and Scotland
(SC039042). Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International. Oxfam is an
international confederation of 17 organizations networked together in 92
countries, as part of a global movement for change, to build a future free from
the injustice of poverty.
www.oxfam.org.uk 5